Thomas called up to England training

Posted on Jan 29, 2013 in England, England Saxons

HENRY THOMAS of Sale Sharks will train with the England squad ahead of Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations match against Scotland at Twickenham Stadium (4pm, live BBC One).

Thomas has been called up to the team’s training base at Pennyhill Park as temporary injury cover for Alex Corbisiero, who remains at London Irish for treatment on his knee.

Ugo Monye (Harlequins) will also train with the squad while Freddie Burns (knee) stays at Gloucester Rugby for treatment.

England Saxons will meet up in Newcastle tomorrow morning ahead of their match with Scotland A at Kingston Park on Friday, February 1 (8pm, live on SkySports 2 HD). Shaun Knight has returned to Gloucester Rugby for treatment on a knee injury.

England Senior training squad (33)

Chris Ashton (Saracens)

Brad Barritt (Saracens)

Mouritz Botha (Saracens)

Mike Brown (Harlequins)

Danny Care (Harlequins)

Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)

Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)

Owen Farrell (Saracens)

Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)

Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)

Alex Goode (Saracens)

Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)

James Haskell (London Wasps)

Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)

Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors)

Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)

Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)

Joe Marler (Harlequins)

Ugo Monye (Harlequins)

Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)

Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)

Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)

David Strettle (Saracens)

Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)

Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)

Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)

Billy Vunipola (London Wasps)

Mako Vunipola (Saracens)

Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)

David Wilson (Bath Rugby)

Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)

Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

England Saxons training squad (24)

Tom Biggs (Bath Rugby)

Kieran Brookes (Leicester Tigers)

Rob Buchanan (Harlequins)

Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers)

Elliot Daly (London Wasps)

Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints)

Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)

George Ford (Leicester Tigers)

Will Fraser (Saracens)

Joe Gray (Harlequins)

Jamie Gibson (London Irish)

George Lowe (Harlequins)

Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers)

George Kruis (Saracens)

Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)

Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)

George Robson (Harlequins)

Joe Simpson (London Wasps)

Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)

Joel Tomkins (Saracens)

Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)

Christian Wade (London Wasps)

Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)

Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)

Robshaw confirmed England captain

Posted on Jan 21, 2013 in England

Chris Robshaw was this evening re-appointed England captain for the RBS 6 Nations.

The Harlequins skipper, who led England to second place in last season’s Championship, will lead the team against Scotland in the opener at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, February 2.

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster, who confirmed the appointment at this evening’s squad meeting, said: “Chris stepped into the role 12 months ago, when we were building a new team, and he has grown as a leader on and off the field. He showed those leadership qualities during the QBE Internationals, and especially against the All Blacks when the whole squad got behind him. We have a number of leaders and I know they will all take this team forwards with Chris as we look to kick on from that result.”

Robshaw said: “Stuart told me this afternoon and I am really pleased to be asked again. There are other leaders in the squad that Stuart could have turned to so I am really honoured. The lads have been great over the last year and now we our focus is on building on the New Zealand performance and getting a result against Scotland.”

Freddie Burns was today assessed by the England medics in consultation with Gloucester Rugby following the knee injury sustained in the Amlin Challenge Cup on Saturday.

The fly half will stay with England at their Leeds training camp and his knee will be scanned over the next few days to establish the full extent of the problem.

England squad update

Posted on Nov 13, 2012 in England

The following players will return to Pennyhill Park tomorrow evening (Wednesday) to prepare for Saturday’s QBE International against Australia at Twickenham Stadium (2.30pm, live on SkySports HD).

FORWARDS (13)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Tom Palmer (London Wasps)
David Paice (London Irish)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

BACKS (10)
Chis Ashton (Saracens)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Dylan Hartley (knee) will also return to camp for continued treatment.

The following 13 players have been released back to their clubs.

Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers)
Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (London Wasps)
Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
George Robson (Harlequins)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)

England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “We had to make some tough decisions within the 23 and we are in a good position to be able to select from a largely fit squad.

“Training has been very focused during the last two days with all the players training well and pushing hard.

“Alex Corbisiero has played once in five months so it is important that he goes back and has more game time for London Irish. Jonathan Joseph has come through training but Brad and Manu did well in the centres and, similar to Alex, it would be good for him to get some game time. 

“It is tough on Ugo, who misses out this time, but Chris (Ashton) has been excellent in training and Charlie is rewarded for his performance at the weekend.”

AVIVA PREMIERSHIP NEWS: Live TV this weekend

Posted on Aug 31, 2012 in Aviva Premiership Rugby

There are three live televised games to watch plus highlights from all six matches.

Aviva Premiership Rugby On TV

Saturday 1st September

London Wasps v Harlequins – live on ESPN from Twickenham Stadium, kick off 14.00

Saracens v London Irish – live on ESPN from Twickenham Stadium, kick off 16.30

The new Aviva Premiership Rugby season begins with the ninth London Double Header in what is always a great day out at Twickenham.  London Wasps have won 4, drawn 1 and lost 3 and are unbeaten in the last three London Double Headers, while defending Aviva Premiership Rugby Champions have a won 3, drawn 1, lost 3 record.  Saracens have won 3, lost 5 and London Irish have won 5 and lost 3.

Sunday 2nd September

London Welsh v Leicester Tigers – live on Sky Sports from the Kassam Stadium, kick off 14.00

London Welsh are participating in England’s top division for the first time and become the 20th different side to play Premiership Rugby.  The Exiles concluded last season’s RFU Championship campaign with four wins in their last five games. Oxford’s Kassam Stadium becomes the 31st new venue to host a Premiership Rugby encounter.  Leicester Tigers have lost their opening fixture in Aviva Premiership Rugby for the past three seasons but have won their last eight games of the regular season in Aviva Premiership Rugby last year.  This is Leicester Tigers’ first visit to the Kassam Stadium.

Aviva Premiership Rugby highlights show – ITV4 at 20.00

Aviva Premiership Rugby highlights show – ITV1 at 23.45

Monday 3rd September

Aviva Premiership Rugby highlights show – ITV4 at 18.00

RFU Podcast: Rowntree, Joseph, Wilkinson, Balshaw, Dallaglio

Posted on May 18, 2012 in Latest Rugby News

Graham Rowntree analyses the unique challenges facing England on this summer’s tour to South Africa in this week’s RFU Podcast.

We also hear from a stellar cast including Jonny Wilkinson, Iain Balshaw and Lawrence Dallaglio as well as England youngster Jonathan Joseph.

England forwards coach Rowntree has first-hand experience in South Africa as forwards coach with the British & Irish Lions in 2009 and insists any side that wants to win there has to earn the right to play at the breakdown.

He also analyses the prospects for newcomers like Tom Youngs, Graham Kitchener and Joe Launchbury who are all part of Stuart Lancaster’s 42-strong touring squad.

Centre Joseph, coached by new England man Mike Catt at London Irish, tells us he’s ready to stake his claim on tour and in the Killick Cup game against the Barbarians on May 27 at Twickenham Stadium.

World Cup winners Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon) and Iain Balshaw (Biarritz) talk about being on opposite sides on Friday night at the Stoop in the final of the Amlin Challenge Cup.

The Dallaglio-Flintoff Cycle Slam is due to finish on Friday after an epic 2,872km trek from Greece to London raising money for Cancer Research UK and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Dallaglio reports on his progress and weighs up the prospects for Leinster and Ulster at Twickenham Stadium in this weekend’s Heineken Cup final.